Published 5:20 am, Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Photo: James Durbin

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Project Literacy 2015 launched from Washington Park and traveled to Bunche Elementary on Monday, Sept. 14, 2015. Marc Brown, author of the "Arthur" series of books, made an appearance to speak to children about reading and teach them how to draw characters from the book. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram less

Project Literacy 2015 launched from Washington Park and traveled to Bunche Elementary on Monday, Sept. 14, 2015. Marc Brown, author of the "Arthur" series of books, made an appearance to speak to children about ... more

Marc Brown and five first-graders from Bunche Elementary School made a big entrance Monday morning to launch Project Literacy, a partnership between Wells Fargo and the Midland Reporter-Telegram.

Brown is the creator of the popular children’s book series featuring Arthur the aardvark.

He rode from Washington Park to Bunche atop a Wells Fargo stagecoach pulled by four horses. When the wagon -- carrying first-graders Gale Montiel, Angelea Rosa, William Ochoa, Julian Villarreal and Josiah Frye and principal Sha Burdsal -- pulled up to the school, it was met by the student body.

“This past month students were learning about having good character and they all studied up on Arthur,” Bunche assistant principal Lorena Gonzales said. “Teachers then selected those five who would best represent their classrooms based on their involvement.”

Brown spoke to the Bunche first-graders and read his new book, “Monkey Not Ready For Kindergarten.”

He explained how Arthur was created, which elicited laughter from the children.

“I started my job because I got fired from my other jobs”" he explained. “I was a teacher but the school closed, I was a truck driver but I kept getting lost. But this puts together my favorite things. I write stories and draw pictures and it’s my dream job.”

Brown then answered the students’ questions about his work and toured the school and their classrooms.

Wells Fargo and Reporter-Telegram employees were in attendance and presented each first-grader with a copy of “Arthur’s Reading Trick.” Each student also received a miniature stagecoach from Wells Fargo.

Brown followed up his Bunche appearance by speaking and signing books Monday afternoon at the Midland County Public Library Centennial branch.

Parents of the five first-graders were at Washington Park when the children boarded the stagecoach and then met them at the school with smartphone cameras held high.

“His teacher told me that he was one of those who was putting more effort into reading,” said Julian’s mother, Maria Hernandez. “He likes to read and so I think that’s why he was chosen.”

-- “The Lights Still Shine Bright: An Evening with Buzz Bissinger,” 7:30 p.m. at the Yucca Theatre. The panel discussion, also featuring Peter Berg, Roy Williams and Lloyd Hill, is a fundraiser for the Midland County Public Library Foundation. Wednesday

-- Meet and greet with John Erickson, author of the “Hank the Cowdog” series, 5 p.m. at the Centennial branch.

-- Meet and greet with Sophie Blackall, illustrator of the “Ivy and Bean” series, 5 p.m. at the Centennial branch. Friday